Water-cooler



April 3, 1934. 5 w MASON 1,953,420

WATER COOLER Filed July 17. 1930 INVENTOR GEORGE W. MASON Patented Apr. 3, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WATER-COOLER George -W. Mason, Detroit, Mich, assignor to Kelvinator Corporation, Detroit, Mich a corporation of Michigan This invention relates to refrigerating apparatus and more particularly to that type of refrigerating apparatus used in cooling drinking water.

The principal object of this invention is to provide an improved means for condensing gaseous refrigerant as it is delivered from a compressor in a refrigerating system of the type described herein.

Another object is to provide means for the utilization of the cooling properties contained in the cooled waste water resulting from the use of a bubbler fountain.

Another object is to provide improved apparatus for cooling drinking water, and for insuring an adequate supply of cold water under all conditions.

For a better understanding of the invention, reference may now be had to the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification, in

which:

Figure I is a vertical cross sectional view of a water cooling refrigerating system embodying this invention.

Figure II is a view taken on the line 2, 2 of 5 Figure I showing the condenser structure in section and the relation of the motor and fan thereto.

Figure III is a sectional view of the condenser structure taken on line 3, 3 of Figure II.

The refrigerating system embodying this invention is housed in a water cooler cabinet 1, which is divided into a cooling compartment 4, and a mechanism compartment 5, by a partition 6. A brine tank '7, having suitably insulated walls 29, is disposed within the cooling compartment 4, and located within the brine tank are water conduits 8, coiled so as to expose a considerable length thereof to the brine solution contained in the brine tank. As is well known, the brine solution is an excellent heat transfer medium and 40 also makes possible the cooling of a substantial length of water conduit at one time thereby insuring an adequate supply of cold water. One end of the conduit 8 is connected to a source of water supply at 9, and the other end leads to a bubbler 10.

A refrigerant compressor 11, is located in the mechanism compartment 5. This compressor is operated by an electric motor 12, through a belt 13, carried on suitable pulleys 14 and 16 associated with the motor 12 and compressor 11. A

refrigerant conduit 17, connected to the high side of the compressor 11, leads to a refrigerant condenser structure 18, which, in addition to the conventional condenser coil 19, consists of a waste water tank 20, within which the coil 19 is disposed. U-shaped vertical fins 21 are secured to the side of the tank 20 for the purpose of increasing the heat exchange surface thereof. The condenser structure 18 is so positioned in the mechanism chamber that one of the walls of the cabinet 1, forms a partial shield about the fins 21. This increases the natural draught circulation of air upwardly through the fins and alongside the water tank. Secured to the end of the motor shaft 15 is a fan 22 positioned in such a manner 5 as to deliver a blast of air against the side of the water tank containing the condenser coil 19.

Associated with the bubbler 10 and positioned to carry away the waste water therefrom is a conduit 27 which communicates with the waste water tank 20 and delivers thereto the cooled waste water from the bubbler. The condenser coil 19 is therefore subject to the cooling influence of the waste water, the additional cooling effect of the natural draught circulation of air caused by the fins on one side of the water tank, and the air delivered by the fan under pressure on the opposite side of the tank. The water tank 20 has a suitable outlet, not shown, for carrying off the overflow of waste 30 water.

One end of a refrigerant conduit 23 communicates with the outlet of the condenser coil 19 and the other end is connected to a capillary tube 24 .through which liquid refrigerant is continuously s5 admitted, during operation of the condensing unit, to the refrigerant evaporator 25 disposed within the brine tank 7. The gaseous refrigerant is withdrawn from the evaporator through an outlet pipe 30 connected to a conduit 26 which communicates with the low side of the compressor 11. Variations in pressure in the suction line 26 are communicated, by means of a conduit 28, to a pressure controller 27 which controls the oper ation of the motor 12.

It will be obvious from the above description,

that this invention has improved upon the conventional type of refrigerating apparatus by providing in a water cooler, means for maintaining at all times an adequate supply of cold water by immersing the water conduits 8 in a brine bath contained in the brine tank 7. The cooled waste water from the bubblerlO has been'made use of to increase the condensation of gaseous refrigerant in the condenser coil 19. A novel arrangement has been provided by the use of fins on the side of the water tank within which the condenser coil is disposed, and the position of the fan asso-' ciated with the motor shaft, for circulating an unusually large quantity of air about the concondenser adapted to receive compressed refrig ,erant from the compressor, a refrigerant vaporizer operatively connected to the compressor and condenser, a flat-like tank enclosing the condenser, a bubbler fountain for dispensing the cooled liquid, means for delivering the waste liquid from the bubbler to the tank, means for causing a natural draft circulation of air about one side wall of said tank, including a plurality of fins secured to said side wall, and a fan for discharging cooling air against the opposite side wall of said tank.

GEORGE W. MASON. 

